Tel. 01538 756800

News and New Products

Flashing yellow and Flashing double yellow on approach to a feather signal.

These new boards allow modern signalling where flashing the yellow aspect(s) to warn that a feather is lit ahead to be replicated. This link takes you toIRDASC-Flashing-Yellow and IRDASC-Flashing-Double_Yellowmore information.

DCC Accessory Decoder-1

This is a single channel accessory decoder designed to be very simple to use particuarly for operating our devices by DCC or as a DCC controlled on/off switch. Click DCC_Accessory_Decoder_1for more information.

To meet increased demand we have converted some of our boards to surface mount components. In the case of the MAS sequencer RI and IRDASC4 RI this redesign has allowed us to give the option of 2 sets of extended wires so that one set can be located on each of the tracks leading away from the point. We have also added the choice of the signal working as normal when the feather is set or only changing to green, at some signals on full size railways when the feather is operated the signal displays yellow to warn the driver that the diverging route needs to be taken at a slow speed.

Gate posts matching those on the gates are now included in our single track crossing kit.

The range of infra red detectors has been increased. Versions of the IRDOT-1D are now available with adjustable delays these are suffixed IRDOT-1AD, they will also work both an occupied and a non occupied LED (or bicolour LED). The delay is selectable in exactly the same way as the IRDOT-3D. Also because of customers using infra red detection above the baseboards in a beam between the emitter and detector we make the IRDOT-1EWBB and IRDOT-1ADEWBB. The suffixes stand for; EW=Extended Wire, AD=Adjustable Delay, BB=Blocked Beam. More details are on the How infra red detection works page.

We have made improvements to the following products:

Latching Relay Board: this now has a memory which works when power is switched off. This means that the relays power up in the same position as they were when the power is switched off.

SA9 and SA9-S (shuttle with siding): this has been simplified by having a seperate terminal for each slowing or stopping train detector. The SA9-S now operates 3 rather than 1 or 2 starter signals, providing a signal at each terminating position.

SA1.1-S (shuttle with intermediate station stop): this now has controls for 4 starter signals providing signals for each termini and for each direction at the intermediate station.

oo scale model of gas lamp suitable for stations and roads

We have introduced OO scale gas lamp models to our range of products. These are lit by internal LEDs. Also introduced are (very) minature surface mount LEDs ready soldered to 0.1mm diameter enamelled copper wire. This makes them very easy to use to light tiny models as it is very difficult to solder wires to such small LEDs. Presently we have red and blue LEDs but plan to add green and yellow soon. The red ones will be usefull for lamps on crossing gates, tail lamps on the end of trains etc. The blue should be easily hidden for flashing catenaries and for connecting to the welder effect. The divisions on the photographs are millimetres.

surface mount LEDs are tiny Surface mount led soldered to copper enamelled wires

 

We have received our first samples of working OO gauge level crossing barriers. These will soon be ready for sale.

We have made the majority of this website "mobile friendly". At least when the updated pages are put in Googles mobile friendly test the test says they are!

We have designed working OO gauge level crossing gates that are easy to install and motorise using our servo motors and Dual Servo Motor Controller. For more details see the OO Level Crossing Gates webpage.

 

 

For details of our new uncoupler kit for OO gauge tension lock couplings click here.

 

 

 

A video showing the Simple Shuttle operating is now on the Simple Shuttle webpage.

We have supplied some of our boards for the model railway at the Alford Heritage Centre, Aberdeenshire. These are based around the SA8-S station stops which have been modified for a visitor operated push button start. After pressing the push button the train will do 5 laps then wait for the push button to be pressed again.

We have also supplied a lot of boards to the Model World Project at Wroxham (on the Norfolk Broads). This is being used on their large N Scale Japanese layout where around 20 trains have been automated with our products. Some units have also been used for moving cars out of the pitstops on their Scalextric circuit.

Another place to see our products working is at Pecorama where they automate some of the layouts.

New Products

Newly available is the Mine Winding Wheel Controller. This controls a 12 volt DC motor to rotate the two wheels at the top of the headframe. After gradual slowing the wheels will gradually restart rotating in the opposite direction

We have upgraded our boards for controlling level crossings to give a greater choice and the option of servo motor controllers to motorise barriers or gates built into the boards. There are a number of options for both UK crossings and also for overseas crossings. (The UK has amber and two red flashing lights for motorists at barrier crossings whilst the rest of the world has just the 2 flashing red lights).

As original with controls for 2 sets of lights and a contact for switching the barrier moving mechanism.

Four sets of lights and a contact.

Four sets of lights and two servo controls and a contact

Four sets of lights and 2 servo controls plus a contacts for operating an electromagnet to stop faller cars when a train is approaching.

All the above are available for either amber and two flashing red or rwo flashing red style lights.

No lights and 2 servo controlers for gated crossings plus a contact for operating an electromagnet to stop faller cars

All these crossings can work either manually under the control of a switch or automatically with the passage of trains.

We are continuimg to make a board to operate the Faller crossing kit.

For more information about the different Level crossing controls this links to the relevant web page.

 

Newly available is the Bouncing Semaphore Controller. This gives realistic movement to model semaphore signals. The Bouncing Semaphore Controller moves a servo motor which uses stiff wire to move the signal arm. An on off switch which can be located on a control panel selects between danger and clear. Alternatively automatic operation is possible by connecting an IRDOT-3D. The video shows a model signal in operation. There are a number of easily made adjustments to position the arm, the speed of movement and the amount of bounce. These are simply made by pressing push button switches on the circuit board.

For more information about the Bouncing semaphore controller see its web page.

 

Recent products

The LED Flasher This board flashes eight LEDs to simulate for example aircraft warning lights on tall buildings, emergency vehicle lights and roadwork lights.

 

The Arc Flasher board mimics the effect of electrical arcing seen when Electric Trains pass. It uses 3 blue LEDs to give the flashing effect. When triggered by a train these give a series of flashes which vary each time a train passes.

The Arc Flasher is triggered with a reed switch. The advantage to this is that the magnets which activate the reed are only fitted to the Electric Trains so that steam and diesel trains will not trigger the flashes.

Piano wire for servo motor linkages

We now have a stock of 0.5mm piano wire.